Unicorns are indeed found in the Bible, but only in the King James Version. The original Hebrew word re’em was translated into the Greek word monokeros (meaning one horned) in the Septuagint. The Latin version used the word unicornis. When the King James Version came along, they used the word unicorn for their translation. It appears they relied on using a slightly shorter version of the Latin word “unicornis”. A majority of the modern versions have used the term “wild ox” instead of unicorn.
Unicorns In The Bible (KJV)
(Numbers 23:22, 24:8) God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
(Deuteronomy 33:17) His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns
(Psalm 22:21) Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
(Psalm 92:10) But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
(Job 39:10) Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
(Psalm 29:6) He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
(Isaiah 34:7) And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.
Horned Animals Of Great Strength
The Bible describes a horned animal that was of great strength. A majority of scholars are in agreement that it was most likely referring to a rhinoceros, or the now extinct urus or aurochs (large ancestors of today’s domesticated cattle). The biblical unicorn was nothing like the mythical one horned horse-like creatures that can be found in the fantasy books and movies of today.
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